Boyfriend and I have spent the past week with friends bouldering in Fontainebleau, France. We hiked a lot carrying food, water and our bouldering mats through secret deserts and boulder-littered forests often up very large hills.

The shape of some boulders was brilliant! Some resembling sharks swallowing sad faced beings.

And other more famous boulders resembling elephants

Other boulders had a name, but for me were just too "high ball" (tall) or difficult for me to attempt or reach the top.

Others, often those on the beginners (aka, "kids") circuits I was able to conquer! And I was delighted!

After days climbing, hiking and trying to ease aching hands and muscles before the next day of more climbing and hiking, boyfriend and I ventured into Paris - a place I've always dreamed to visit - for two days before coming home.

AHEM! we would like to interrupt Owners update to make a formal complaint.

Also, why were we not consulted when Buddy disappeared only to reappear and have THIS happen?
No, no, stop looking at Rue - we are talking about the absence of hay from Hay Rack 1... yes, yes, we had grass in the cage but don't you know that guinea pigs need all hay racks to be full at all times?!

Your holiday looks fun and sounds like you kept very active. I don't think I would have managed climbing those boulders. Can't wait to see what is happening with the pigs living quarters. I bet you were glad to see them again.

Thank you, Lynx! The holiday was very fun but also quite full on physically. I feel like I need a holiday to recover from my holiday. Apparently Paris isn't like Rome where landmarks are all quite close together. My poor wee feet :)

GP_mum, it's actually MY living quarters that I am hoping to change this summer. Fingers crossed that I find somewhere! I have a plan for my living room I just need to find the right flat!

A series of events led up to the arrival of little Rue joining the herd. Of all the guinea pigs I have given a home to in my life I have never met one quite so determined to literally fly from one's arms as this little bundle of joy.

"I would like to go away now."

"It will take more than a handful of grass to make me want anything to do with you."

Maisie thinks that she's a little horror. Never have I ever heard sweet little Maisie chattering her teeth at any pig until I found Rue bouncing around her not sure whether to stuff her head beneath Maisie or hump her!

Maisie and Rue are about the same age. I thought for this reason that adopting Rue was the perfect idea so Maisie could have a pig her own age to run around after. I'm not sure I'll see them cuddling up together in a hide any time soon, though.

Nah, I'm only joking. Scribble is often too busy trying to defend his derrière hair from being touched to interfere in any of the sow's arguments.

The real weapon that Maisie has whenever she's being picked on is:
Mum!

As one of our heavyweight sows Meribel is the perfect pig to be friends with if you have a pig being a bit of a butt to you in the cage. As the only mum-pig in the group she seems to have the utmost respect from the entire herd! All Maisie has to do is put mum between herself and Rue.

jacqueline - I love watching my guinea pig tv with a cup of tea and slice of toast in the morning! When I'm feeling devious I like to stand in their cage in my bunny slippers and watch the herd trying to work out what on earth has invaded their space.

Scribble likes to scream and rumble at the slippers.
Maisie likes to step on them
Meribel thinks they are not very interesting
Rue likes to eat the eyes!!!
And everyone else just seems confused or more interested in whether the legs have food.

Jacqueline - I notice changes as a sow goes into heat but not so much because of weather. However where I live in Scotland we don't get many dramatic weather changes and the pigs aren't in a room where I spend a lot of time watching pig-tv so I might be missing things.